Ocean Springs museum asks for the public's help

Visitors to Ocean Springs not only enjoy a charming coastal community, they also discover history that dates back to 1699. The Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center on Government Street houses the Ocean Springs Museum of History. An array of exhibits tell the stories of the people and places of Ocean Springs. The museum is dedicated to sharing the past.

"We're looking at 315 years to the most important area that played in the whole United States," said Museum Director Betty Magee. "If we don't preserve this history, how will our children know?"

The museum is starting an interesting campaign asking residents to donate or loan personal items, so the facility can build its collection.

"We're dying to know your history, " Magee said. "Share it with us and the knowledge you have in your family photographs, documents and deeds. You can help us with furnishings or china. Anything that you have."

She said it's particularly important to preserve history on the coast because over the years hurricanes have robbed us of so much of our culture.

"A lot of our history was taken away by Mother Nature. We have to go around her and find a way to bring it back," Magee said.